QPR boss ready to rotate strikers

Steve McClaren will assess his squad ahead of Saturday’s game. [Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire]

Steve McClaren has hinted that Tomer Hemed will be restored to the QPR starting line-up for Saturday’s game against Derby.

With Rangers playing three games in the space of a week, on-loan Brighton striker Hemed was a substitute for Tuesday’s win at Reading.

Manager McClaren now looks set to start with him this weekend, with Nahki Wells possibly being rested this time.

Wells, on loan from Burnley, led the line at the Madejski Stadium, where Toni Leistner’s second-half goal gave the R’s a deserved three points.

“We have Nahki and Tomer to kind of rotate in a busy week. We’ve got to recover and be ready for Derby now,” McClaren said.

McClaren says a frank exchange of views between his players led to an improved display at Reading.

Leistner was QPR’s match-winner. [Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire]

Rangers lost 3-0 at Swansea in their previous fixture, which prompted the players’ meeting.

“We were very disappointed at Swansea, it was never a 3-0 game,” McClaren said.

“The players knew that, but you still have to go out and prove it. And they did that. Credit to them.

“They got together [after the Swansea defeat], we all did. And there were a few home truths told. The players sorted it out and they were ready to play.

“I said that the first 10 minutes were going to be huge for us and that was so important.

“We were so good in those 10 minutes in terms of the aggression that we showed, our courage to play and our control in possession.

“It’s a small step and we’ve got to take another one on Saturday.”